Chapter 16 #2
Emerson cleared her throat. Focused on the vics. “Look, we know two of the couples went paddleboarding. Or, at least, the wives did. The husbands watched. How about we head out on the beach and get a closer look at the rental booths? You can see if your spider senses start tingling there.”
“Not funny, Emerson.”
“I thought it was,” she grumbled.
He took her hand once more.
She caught herself before stiffening. It’s for show.
In case anyone else sees us. They cut across the pathway, moving toward the beach and heading for the paddleboards.
She noticed that Gray avoided the prominent, white security cameras that had been installed at various locations around the resort.
Typically, the security cameras were perched up high so they could angle down and view foot traffic.
Gray was sneaky, she had to give him that. He knew precisely how to avoid being seen. Soon, the crash of waves teased her ears as they hurried across the sand and darted toward the rental booths. Three different white rental units had been set up on the beach and…
“Sonofabitch.” Gray stopped mid-stride. He spun toward her.
There were no security guards around. No other people at all. A completely empty expanse of beach.
He pulled her into his arms. “Kiss me like you can’t ever get enough of me.” His head lowered. His lips took hers.
Sure, done. Her mouth opened beneath his.
His tongue thrust into her mouth, and it was like going from zero to eighty in the blink of an eye.
This wasn’t the quick touch of lips they’d shared beneath the palm tree moments before.
This was consuming. This was intense. This was real.
She could feel the hunger in the hard press of his hands.
In the heavy dick that shoved against her.
And her nipples were tight. Her sex yearning.
He lowered her onto the sand. It was soft, a cushion for her body. She was beneath him, surrounded by him. Gray’s hands caught hers. Held them over her head against the soft sand. His legs slid between hers, and her skirt hiked up. She rubbed against his heavy cock, and her whole body yearned.
Gray’s mouth pulled from hers. His lips skimmed over her jaw. Her cheek.
She looked up and a million stars glittered overhead. Killer view.
Gray let go of her hands. He caught the edge of her earlobe with his teeth, and her eyes snapped closed as bliss and need whipped through her blood.
“Found it,” he rasped.
Great. Wonderful. He could find what he needed with her all night long.
“I am tingling,” he added, voice a hushed whisper.
Yes, so was she. Her hips rocked against him.
Her hands slid over his arms, and she wondered if they were going to have mad, passionate sex right then and there.
She’d never had sex on a beach. Actually, she’d only ever had sex in a bed.
Was that too vanilla? Was Gray about to show her a whole new world? Because she was ready.
“I found what doesn’t belong.” The tip of his tongue skated over the shell of her ear.
She shuddered. But then his words registered. Emerson stiffened. She stopped grabbing at his arms. Her hands flew between them, and she proceeded to shove against him.
Only Gray didn’t move. “Camera is on us, baby.”
What?
He caught the lobe of her ear. Gave it a sensual tug with his teeth.
Her panties got very wet.
“The camera doesn’t match the others. Wrong type. Different model. Different color. Small as hell, but I saw it. Someone else is viewing our couples, not just the security staff.”
She hadn’t seen a camera, but then again, she’d barely had time to look before he’d pounced on her.
All of this is for show?
Except you couldn’t fake an erection. That part was very, very real. He was turned on. So was she. She was turned on because it was him. Was he just—was his arousal because of adrenaline? Because she was rubbing her body wildly against him and it was simply a physical response?
He’d wanted her to play his partner on this case because he wanted her. Because the attraction was there and scenes like this one would be easier to fake.
Ice slid over her skin.
“We’re going back to the suite. Gonna pretend like we can’t keep our hands off each other.”
Pretend. That was the problem. She had to get her head in the game and stop acting as if everything they were doing was real.
“I’ll try to spot more cameras on the way. Gonna contact Malik ASAP and see if we can figure out where the feed is being transmitted.” He pulled back. Pressed his hands into the sand and levered up.
Before she could rise, he’d caught her hands, too. He lifted her up. Bent to kiss her again.
Her eyes closed. She kissed him back. The wind rolled in with the waves, and her skirt flew around her. A tear leaked from her right eye. She could feel it, but surely Gray couldn’t see it.
A million stars overhead. And the waning moon. He saw the tiny camera, but you think he can’t see a tear drop?
He let her go. Turned away.
She hurriedly brushed away the tear. Sand must have gotten in her eye.
He didn’t comment so she hoped he hadn’t seen the small movement.
They rushed back through the resort area.
Heading in a path that made no sense to her, but Gray moved unerringly.
Every now and then, he’d pause. Either pull her into an embrace.
Get her revved up and tense. Or he’d lean in close as if he were whispering some sort of sweet nothing to her. But in reality…
“There’s another one, top of the dock house, pointed toward the area where they do morning yoga. Damn, would have missed it if I hadn’t already known exactly what the secondary cameras looked like.”
She still missed the camera. Wait, no, there it was. She’d been keeping track each time Gray stopped.
They hurried along and then… “Another,” Gray told her. “Near the maintenance door in the pool area.”
The pool glowed, a bright blue, courtesy of its underwater lights.
His arm settled around her shoulders. He brought her in close, nuzzling her neck. “The bastard watches everyone. He picks out his prey.”
She let her hand rise, and Emerson curled her fingers around his. “What makes him pick certain people?”
His head turned. Again, he was in the shadows, but she was more easily seen. Her lighter skirt. The blouse. “I think it’s the women. Something about them. They were the ones on the paddleboards. They were the ones at the yoga class. He chooses the couples based on the women.”
And Emerson realized why Gray hadn’t said a word when she’d come out in the light skirt and top, even though he’d dressed to blend with the darkness. He wanted her to be seen.
He wanted her to be the killer’s prey.
“Then let’s just hope he chooses me,” she said. Deliberately, she pulled from his embrace. Went into the light cast by the pool. Even did a little twirl near the pool’s edge.
“Emerson?” Anger roughed his voice. But maybe if anyone overheard him, they’d mistake the anger for lust.
She stopped her spin. Stayed near the edge of the pool.
Not like she wanted to fall in, though that would certainly create a show for any watcher.
Instead, she smiled at her “husband” as he waited in the darkness.
“Come and get me.” It sounded like a taunt for Gray.
She even crooked her finger at him in sensual invitation.
But…
The taunt was for the killer. Whoever might be watching. Whoever might be looking for new prey.
Come and get me.
She’d catch his attention. One way or another.
Gray growled and burst from the darkness. He went right to her. In a blink, he’d picked her up. Tossed her over his shoulder. The reaction was not what she’d expected, and Emerson let out a surprised cry.
His hold tightened on her. “Got you.” And with her over his shoulder, he carried her back through the dark and away from the gleaming water in the pool.